Theme Mini Lesson
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seshollMini Lesson:
Theme
Mini Lesson:
Good readers can
identify the THEME of a
fictional story
• The five literary elements
found in all fictional
literature…
• Characters : who
REVIEW… • Setting: where/when
• Plot: how
• Conflict: what
• –THEME: WHY!
A theme is…
–the author’s central
message or idea in a story.
Theme
–expressed in a general
statement.
–is about human beings or
about life.
A Theme is… A Theme is NOT…
- A message or idea • A moral
- Stated in a sentence
- An author’s observation about • A lesson
human nature. • Advice
- Found in all literary elements of a • A “you” statement
story: characters, setting, plot, and • Fortune cookie message
conflict.
- Arguable. • One word
- Implied; not directly stated. • A summary
- Applicable to multiple texts. • Non-example: “Slow and
steady wins the race
Example: Hard work results in
success.
Have you read a book with one of
these themes?
• There is beauty in simplicity
• Death is unavoidable
• Loneliness is a destructive force
• Knowledge is power
• Ignorance is weakness
• Love is transformative
• Relationships are dependent on sacrifice
How to figure out the THEME of
a fictional story…
Start: What is the End:
What topics or big
author Put it into
saying
ideas does the a
about one
story deal with? of these THEME
topics? statement!
Example… Little Red Riding
Hood
Start: What is the End:
What topics or big author Put it into
ideas does the saying
story deal with? about one a
of these THEME
topics? statement.
The author shows
that the wolf is Theme:
Deceptio able to deceive
Granny and Red Innocence can
n
because they are lead to
innocent. deception.
Example… The Three Little
Pigs
Start: What is the End:
What topics or big author Put it into
ideas does the saying
story deal with? about one a
of these THEME
topics? statement.
The author
Makin shows that the Theme:
g planning ahead
Good
Smart and building a
brick house was planning
Choice a smart choice. leads to
s
success.
BIG IDEAS:
• Ambition • Perseveran
• Jealousy ce
• Beauty • Fear
• Loneline • Prejudice
ss • Freedom
• Betrayal • Suffering
• Love • Happiness
• Courage • Truth
• Loyalty • Redemption
• Duty
WHAT ELSE?
Still having trouble? Think
about…
• Symbols that reoccur
• Patterns in the story
• Details that stand out from the
rest
• The title